3. Situations of Economic Livelihoods

The news feed of December mostly covered the revocation of travel and transportation restrictions in some townships, followed by the ceasefire agreement between the two parties. The resuming occurred only for specific routes such as (partially opening) Kyauk Taw-Paletwa waterway, Sittwe-Ponnagyun road, and Maungdaw-Ahngumaw road during the first week of the month. On the contrary, some routes, particularly Ponnagyun-Rathedaung and Minbya-Myebon roads, were not included in the lift. However, the latter road through Kyetsin Bridge connecting Minbya-Myebone townships was allowed for communication and transportation a few days later.

Regarding the blockage for the Ponnagyun-Rathedaung road, a car driver told Development Media Group on December 8,

“Only motorbikes and three-wheelers can pass those (junta forces) checkpoints, and [four-wheeled] vehicles are not allowed. Locals are suffering a lot from the blockade, including their livelihoods and health.”

On the other hand, the news also highlighted the unlawful taxation by the junta personnel in Sittwe township. The issue is reported at Yaychanpyin ferry port and Satyoekya Bridge in Sittwe; the junta officers and policemen are forcibly collecting money from boat owners. Sometimes, their checks on boats unnecessarily take a long and ask for money from 50000 kyats to more than 100000 kyats. Otherwise, the boat passage is not smoothly allowed.

Despite there being some liberalisation of the roads, the free passage of some goods is still not allowed. Rice and medicine are especially investigated where merchants and pharmacy store owners have to seek permission for the transportation of rice and medicines with the recommendations of the doctors. Numerous sacks of rice must be carried only by military-provided cargo boats. That kind of tight control has grave impacts across the Rakhine State, including Ann township, where the junta forces largely dominate the road and communication lines.

The implications resulting from about three months-long travel restrictions imposed by the junta resulted in food, medicine and fuel shortage, skyrocketing commodities prices and a deficit in trade value. Literally, the border trade through Maungdaw has declined by 95 per cent since the Myanmar military blocked off trade routes on 13th August, according to merchants.

“The trade declined by 30 per cent in September, a further 30 per cent in October, and another 30 per cent in the first week of November, and it had declined by a total of 95 per cent in the last week of November,” the Chairperson of the Maungdaw Border Traders Association, U Aung Myint Thein answered to Development Media Group on December 1.

The economic situation during the whole month did not show positive along with the challenging livelihoods of the people. The local businesses such as Arakan State oysters, betel nuts, dried fish and saltwater shrimp hatchery are in hardship as the local people eat less and demand declines. On the other hand, local products are not able to win the competitive market with imports from abroad. With increasing prices of labour and raw materials, some suppliers or harvesters choose to step away.

“Big oysters are imported from China through the border. Their oysters are much bigger than ours. So, people buy imported oysters and not ours. Oysters imported from China are also cheaper. So, our oysters are not selling at all. It is also partly because people are spending less on consumption,” said Ko Khaing Aung, an oyster farmer in Ramree township.

In addition to it, the agriculture sector is also negatively affected by climate change and has less time for cultivation due to armed conflicts. It thus ends up with the farmers indebted to loans and also leaving their farms.According to U Kyaw Zan, Chairperson of the Arakan Farmers’ Union replying to Development Media Group on 18th December,

“About 30 percent of farmers will be in a situation where they will give up their land. Those who have gone abroad and those who work on rented farms are also in a situation where they cannot repay their debts.”

This ending month of the year, however, brings good news for local pepper growers with the technical assistance provided by the farming community support group called Organ Land. They can share the techniques which can help them be successful in growing two non-native varieties of pepper and make profits. Regarding foreign investments and trade, the junta administration seems welcoming to more foreign projects regardless of criticism by the local community.

In the second week of December, a Chinese government-owned company called “POWER CHINA '' visited the Rakhine State Military Council to discuss the Kyaukphyu project, which is part of their wind power building project in six townships of Myanmar. Furthermore, the junta accelerated the restart of the controversial Vietnam-backed Nayputaung marble stone production project in Taunggok Township, which was suspended under the NLD administration.

“The project has inflicted immeasurable environmental impacts. It might well impact the farms of local people and water resources. The military council is implementing this project only for their interests,” said local environmental conservationist Ko Myo Lwin told Narinjara News Agency on December 5.

In Sittwe, a new port as part of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project will be opened soon to allow direct trade between Myanmar and India, according to the Arakan State military council.

“This project gained constructive opinions from the residents, yet, its environmental and social impacts need to be better explained to the public as a whole,” commented the Managing Director of the Arakan Rivers Network.